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Delta Airlines Car Seat and Stroller Policy
Bringing a Car Seat Into the Cabin on Delta Airlines
You may only bring a car seat into the cabin on Delta Airlines if your child has an assigned seat, meaning that they are flying with their own purchased tickets. A car seat is the safest way for a child to fly on an airplane.
You are responsible for providing a government-approved child restraint system, in most cases this being your child's car seat, or a CARES harness device. Most car seats are approved for airplane use, but unfortunately not all car seats are certified as safe for children to fly in. Be sure to check that your car seat meets the requirements for being FAA-certified to fly on an airplane.
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For car seats that are FAA-approved for use in an airplane, they will have a label that reads "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft". It is important that this label be affixed to the car seat, and the flight attendants will look for the labels to confirm that your child's car seat certified for use. If your car seat is not government approved, or the car seat has the label removed, your child will not be able to fly in their car seat.
Bringing a Car Seat on Delta Airlines when Flying with a Baby on Your Lap
If your baby is flying as an "Infant-in-Arms", meaning a baby less than 2 years of age that is flying on your lap without their own assigned seat, you may not bring a car seat into the cabin.
Only in the case that there is an available seat on the flight, the gate-agent may allow you to bring and install your car seat for your baby to fly in without having to buy them a ticket. If this is the case, your car seat will have to meet the same FAA labeling requirements as described above.
In all other cases, your child's car seat will be gate-checked free of charge, and fly in the belly of the plane.
Bringing a Car Seat as Checked Baggage on Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines allows you to bring a car seat as checked baggage when flying with a baby on your lap - the car seat will not count toward your checked baggage allowance, and it will travel for free.
You may choose to check-in your car seat either at the curbside check-in, at the ticket counter, or at the boarding gate.
We recommend to always check-in your car seat at the gate when boarding your flight, known as gate-checking, as this reduces the chances for the car seat to be damaged during the baggage handling process, it is less likely to get lost in transit, and having it available may offer the opportunity for your baby to fly in the car seat if there is space available on the plane.
Protecting your Car Seat when Flying on Delta Airlines
When you check in your baby's car seat as a piece of luggage, it will be transported to the plane's belly with the other checked bags. Many parents prefer to bring their car seat to the gate and "gate-check" it so it doesn't get damaged or lost in the airport's complicated system for sorting luggage.
When you check your car seat at the gate, we suggest putting it in a car seat travel cover to keep it from getting dirty, torn, damaged, or lost. The bright colors of many car seat travel covers are meant to capture the attention of the baggage handlers and reduce the likelihood that your car seat will get lost, forgotten, or misplaced at the gate.
Bringing a Baby Stroller on Delta Airlines
You may bring your child's stroller free of charge on Delta Airlines - it will be carried in the belly of the plane together with the other suitcases. You can check-in the stroller either while checking-in your regular suitcases, or bringing it with you through security and "gate-checking" your stroller when boarding the plane.
We recommend gate-checking your stroller, so that you can use it for transporting your child throughout the airport, and it reduces the chances of your stroller getting lost or damaged in transit.
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